The Trail to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

The four-legged athletes don’t just show up

By Susan Kanode

There is nothing like the majesty of a bucking horse making a victory lap around an arena full of rodeo fans, or a bull in front of the bucking chutes in all of his glory with a “look at what I just did” attitude. 

We know the road for Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) competitors is long, winding and often grueling. The road for the four-legged athletes in the bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding is a little shorter, but for their owners, it’s every bit as challenging. 

Navigating getting animals selected for rodeo’s championships starts with rodeo stock contractors, and their journey is one of passion. Just like the NFR competitors, they must be a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and not only does that require passion, it requires deep pockets. 

To become a PRCA stock contractor starts with the animals.  They must have a minimum of 25 bareback and 25 saddle bronc horses and 25 bulls. Let’s say an average price for these animals is $5,000. That times 75 is $375,000. Add in extra animals, trucks for transport, facilities to care for them and a feed bill and it doesn’t take an accountant to figure out that it’s expensive. Then they need to apply to the PRCA, pay fees and produce six new rodeos in their first year of business. 

Once the terms of the initial requests are met, they have a three-year probationary period before becoming full member stock contractors. None of their animals are eligible for selection to a sanctioned special event, for example the NFR, during their first year of business. 

One of the newest firms on the books is McCoy Rodeo of Tupelo, Oklahoma, who joined the PRCA four years ago. In 2022 they had one bull, last year they had two, and this year they have three bulls at the NFR. Their principal owner, Cord McCoy, competed in the bull riding in the Thomas & Mack Center in 2005. 

He is also a five-time world champion in the International Professional Rodeo Association. He was an all-around hand competing in all three rough stock events. He grew up ranching and competing and is a rodeo fan. 

Cord gained fame as one of the “cowboys” on the Amazing Race where he competed with his brother, Jet.  With all of the experiences he has had, and memories made, one that will always stand out is in Las Vegas. 

“I’ve ridden bulls in five different countries,” he said. “You can go ride a bull just about anywhere, but as a bull rider, there is only one place that you get to ride in the grand entry – the National Finals Rodeo. When I rode into the Thomas & Mack the first time, I knew I had made it and that was one of the best feelings I had as a competitor.” 

The first bull that was selected to compete in Las Vegas was Ridin Solo, who is a member of the McCoy family. He also earned the first of two world championships in the Professional Bull Riders in 2022. Having the bull recognized in the PBR and then bucking at the NFR stirred up some emotions for Cord. 

“That feeling of the first grand entry came back all over again,” he said. “Standing behind those yellow bucking chutes and flanking a bull that I own and that means so much to my family was maybe even better than riding there. I worked for it as a competitor and now we are working for it as a contractor.” 

Stock contractors nominate their animals for the NFR. Nominations have to be at the PRCA headquarters in Colorado Springs one month before the regular season ends. Each nomination costs $50 and must include three videos of the animal performing. And, to be eligible, an animal has to have eight outs (be bucked eight times) at a PRCA sanctioned rodeo. The nomination fees go into a pool and are paid back to the contractors as awards for Top NFR Bucking Stock. 

It might not seem fair that they have to be turned in before the regular season is over, but this year they had 1,270 animals nominated. That is narrowed down to 310 and it takes a lot of time, communication and consideration. 

“We start planning in October for the animals that we think could be good enough to be at the NFR,” Cord said. “As soon as we send in nominations for one year, we are thinking about the next.” 

The nominees are then sent to event directors who are elected by their peers. Caleb Bennett represents bareback riders, while Cody Rostockyj handles the bull riders and Bradley Harter, saddle bronc riders. If those names are familiar, they should be. They have each competed for gold buckles at the NFR. 

The event directors narrow the field and they each handle it their own way. They are representing the contestants so just like a politician with constituents, they need to keep the contestants happy.

Bradley starts by reviewing the videos and making lists. When he has that together, he has a conference call with the top 20 saddle bronc riders in the world standings. For the past three years, one of his biggest challenges is getting those guys on the phone while they are all traveling and working to either hold their world standings position or move up into the top 15 and have a chance to get on the great horses they discuss. This year they started with 400 head of potential saddle bronc horses. 

“It’s like herding cats,” he said with a laugh. “But, we have a process in place now that works. We pull the horses we don’t think should go with a goal of getting down to 150. There are so many factors to consider, like how many does this contractor have, will this horse need a buddy, is it a right or left hand delivery? It’s a process.” 

The event directors have about six weeks to finalize their lists. Then, they go to the PRCA administration and are sent to a committee that includes former NFR competitors and the general manager of production for the final step of the approval process. 

There are a lot of moving parts. No one knows that better than Heath Stewart, rodeo manager for Frontier Rodeo. The company, owned by Jerry Nelson, has garnered the Stock Contractor of the Year Award for the past 10 consecutive years. 

“We think about it all the time and when you have one that you think is good enough, it’s always the goal,” Heath said. “We have great committees and opportunities and not everyone has that. But we start thinking about those animals and their eight outs and where they have the chance to draw great riders and show off their abilities.

“The bottom line is the contestants are going to take animals to the NFR that they’ve won money on all year long. Sometimes it’s hard to get a younger animal there, but once they’ve been there and if they’ve gotten guys to the pay window, there’s a pretty good chance they are going to get to go back.” 

Frontier Rodeo’s bareback horse Full Baggage is one of those that was chosen as a youngster and has gone on to win multiple awards, including being the 2013 Bareback Horse of the Year. The big bay gelding’s first time bucking in the Thomas & Mack Center was in 2008 and he hasn’t missed an NFR since then. This December, Full Baggage will be making his 17^th appearance. 

“He’s one of those horses that loves the NFR,” Heath said. “There’s so much atmosphere in the Thomas & Mack and it gets loud. The fans are right on top of the action and it’s a lot of pressure for the contestants and the animals. Full Baggage stands out to me because he’s been consistent, and they have always done really well on him.”

Frontier Rodeo has made many trips to the stage at the South Point to pick up nightly go-round awards because of this gelding as well as their other animals. This year, they had four bareback horses, three saddle broncs and three bulls selected. 

They are one of 63 contractors that come from across the United States and Canada to showcase their animals on rodeo’s biggest stage. And with the top contestants qualified, they never have to worry if the animals have drawn a good rider. The satisfaction of seeing one of the bucking horses or bulls take a contestant to the pay window means that their hard work and strategy has been worth it.